Platform for fire-escapes



(No ModeL) I 11.. HAMMILL.

PLATFORM FOR FIRE ESUAPES. No. 316,960; Patented May 5, 1885.

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PATENT RICHARD HAMMILL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PLATFORM FOR FlRE-ESCAP ES.

l5PECII-"ICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 316,960, dated May5, 1885.

Application filed September 16, 1884. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD HAMMILL, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Platformsfor Fire- Escapes, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had therein to the ac companying drawings.

My invention relates to an improved platform especially adapted to usein connection with fire-escape ladders secured to buildings.

The object of the invention is to so construct these platforms that allcollection of ice, 850., will be avoided, and a sure and comfortablefoothold obtained.

To the accomplishment of the above the invention consists in forming aplatform of a number of cross-bars, eac h roughened upon its upper face,and the side edges of each bar being formed on an incline, the barsbeing so arranged that a number of square or diamond shaped openingswill be formed in the platform.

Reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1is a plan view of the platform, and Fig. 2 a section of part thereof onan enlarged scale.

Like letters refer to like parts in each view.

The platform consists of a frame-work, a, and a suitable number ofcross-bars, b. At suitable points openings 0 may be formed for thepassage therethrough of suitable standards or vertical pieces which formthe side rails of the ladder in connection with which the platforms areto be used, and an opening, 01, for the reception of the ordinarystandpipe may also be provided.

The platform may have further support upon the building through themedium of any suitable braces adapted to be inserted into the wall ofthe same or otherwise secured thereto; but as I make no claim to anysuch braces I will not further describe them.

The upper faces of cross-bars Z2, hereinbefore referred to, arecorrugated, as at e, whereby any ice accumulating thereon is broken anddislodged when pressed upon by the foot of the person using theplatform. Cross-bars b are strengthened by suitable downwardlyprojectingflanges or ribs, f, and said bars are curved downwardly from the centcrtoward each side edge, as shown clearly in Iig. 2.

By this construction of the parts the ice when dislodged is free to passthrough the openings formed by the bars I), and no ice is accumulated,as in the case with platforms as heretofore constructed, wherein theopenings have been largest at the top.

The bars of which the platform is composed are T-shaped in cross-sectionwith the crosspiece slightly curved upon each side edge. By thisformation of the bars all the advantages requisite to a useful platformare obtained, a wide and comfortable foot-rest is obtained, no snow orice can lodge upon or between the bars, and strength is secured togetherwith lightness and with the use of little material.

Iam aware that platforms composed of bars diamond-shaped incross-section are not new,

. and also that bars oval-shaped in cross-section are in use; but inboth of such constructions one or more of the advantages of myarrangement cannot be secured. IVhen the diamondshaped bar is used asharp edge is presented, which is liable to cut the shoe or foot of theuser, and ice or snow frequently lodges between the bars, while in theoval-shaped bar, if a broad surface is to be obtained, bars ofconsiderable weight are necessary.

WVhat I claim is- A platform for fire-escapes, composed of a series ofbars roughened upon their upper

